AE Staff

Chris Sweatt

Director of Arts Education
chris.sweatt@tn.gov or 615-253-8914

Chris Sweatt joined the Tennessee Arts Commission in August 2022. In his role, he develops and leads grants, programs, and special initiatives associated with Arts Education to prepare students of all ages for success in school, career, and life.

Prior to joining the Commission, Chris worked as the Director of Choral Music at Jackson Preparatory School in Jackson, Mississippi; managed a network of 200+ grant-based school music programs for Music and the Brain; and implemented teacher development workshops, group music classes, and other programs with organizations like the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, NYC Department of Education, and Sing for Hope “Pianos” Project. Chris is also an active freelance music director, accompanist, and pianist.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Birmingham-Southern College, a Master of Arts in Music Education from New York University, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Music Directing from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

 

Julia Stark

Arts Learning Specialist
julia.stark@tn.gov  or 615-532-5934

Julia joined the Tennessee Arts Commission in November of 2022 as the Arts Learning Specialist. Originally from Tennessee, Julia came to us from Cedar City, Utah, where she spent several years working for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. As the Tour Booking Manager, Julia worked with Shakespeare-in-the-Schools, managing performances serving over 20,000 students across the Intermountain West. She worked with the Utah Shakespeare Competition as director for the Junior Players Program. Julia has also served as a Production Operations Intern with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as a mentor for the Clarence Brown Theatre’s Shakespeare in Shades program, and as a Teaching Artist with the Knoxville Children’s Theatre.

Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts Outreach with a Minor in Hispanic Studies from the University of Tennessee’s College Scholars Program and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University.